Third win in row for Melton

PUBLISHED: 17:56 30 July 2009 | UPDATED: 15:06 14 July 2010

Great Melton got their third consecutive win when they hosted Stow A.

The result leaves Melton second in the Alliance Division Four table, but with Stow A sure to bounce back at their home ground this week and some tough games still to come, Melton will need to continue to work hard in the race for promotion next year.

The result leaves Melton second in the Alliance Division Four table, but with Stow A sure to bounce back at their home ground this week and some tough games still to come, Melton will need to continue to work hard in the race for promotion next year.

Skipper Woods elected to bat first. Alex Cooper and Richard Wood again opened proceedings for Melton, and despite an early flurry of boundaries, found scoring difficult against some tight bowling and fielding.

Davey in particular bowled in some good areas for the visitors and was rewarded with the wicket of Cooper for 17.

In-form Jason Whiddett joined Wood and took the score to 55 before he fell victim to Cooke for six. The same bowler also claimed Wood for 18 soon after, leaving Melton in the uncomfortable position of three for 58.

This bought Justin Stephenson and Marcus Godbold together and they steered Melton back on track with a 40-run partnership. Stephenson departed on 33 which left Godbold junior to play the sheet-anchor role for the rest of the innings.

Ben Mann (12), Darryl Godbold (28) and Mark Scott (18) all combined with the younger Godbold to contribute good partnerships and guide the Melton innings to a respectable close at 226 for seven. Marcus Godbold finished with a career-best 73no.

Melton's opening duo of Stephenson and Scott were eager to make early inroads.

The initial breakthrough came with Stephenson, who had the left-handed Marshall trapped in front for five.

But it was Mark Scott who stole the limelight and broke the back of Stow's resistance.

Scott bowled with pace, accuracy and control to record his best figures for Melton, finishing with 6-15 off 11 overs. He was well supported by Stephenson (3-19) and Cooper (1-2). Eight of the 10 wickets were bowled or lbw.